Ball-bearing curtain-ring.



i J. W. LESLIE. BALL BEARING CURTAIN RING. APPLICATION FILED rEB.1o,1908.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

TH: Normas Parras co.. wAsHmcwN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

JAMES W. LESLIE, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

B ALL-BE ARING CURTAIN-RING..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. LESLIE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, andresident of lakefield, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Ball-Bearing Curtain-Rings, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like `numerals on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of an efficient,durable and cheap ball bearing curtain-ring for use inhanging curtains,portires, and the like, the ring being provided with one or moretraverserolls mounted to revolve around the ring upon bearing balls. Bythis construction I attain a practically noiseless rin'g when movedalong the usual supporting rod or pole, and: one which can be moved witha minimum of friction.

Inasmuch as curtain-rings are s old at a relatively low price thestructure must be such that the same can be made very cheaply and thedifferent parts quickly and easily assembled, and at the saine time dueregard must be had to the strength and rigidity of the ring.

The various novel features of my invention w-ill be fully describedinthe subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in thefollowing claims.

Figure l is a View in elevation of a curtain ring embodying one forin ofmy invention, provided with ball-bearing traverse-rolls, the supportingpole being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail to illustratethe manner in which the separated ends of the ring are i'ixedlyconnected, and the structure of the ball-bearing feature, two differentforms of the connecting member being shown 3 Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, tomore clearly illustrate structural details 3 Fig. 4 is a view partly insection of another embodiment of my invention 5 Fig. 5 is an enlargeddiametral section of the traverse-roll; Fig. 6 is a side elevationthereof, Fig. 7 is a diametral section of a traverseroll having a largeexternal diameter, for use with small bearing rolls; Eig. S is anelevation of a connecting member made as a single piece and `providedwith two ball races.

I prefer to providethe ring with two radially arranged traverse-rolls,as thereby thebest andlmost practicalresultsr are se- Specicaton ofLetters Patent.

Application led February 10, 1908.

Patented'Feb. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 415,061.

cured, and preferably the main or body portion of the ring is made ofthin sheet-metal, bent into ring form, at 1, the ends of such ring bodybeing separated in the structure illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The traverse-roll is made as a hollow shell, composed of two circulardisks n, 3, centrally apertured, and flanged atl their outer;circumferences at 4, 5 respectively, the flanges 5 overlapping theflanges 4, clearly shown' in Fig. 5, and the two parte are xedlyconnected 1n any suitable manner, as by4 rolling over the edge of theflange 5as at 6. A roll of this construction is shown in, my UnitedyStates Patent N o. 87 2,947 granted Decemberprovided with two radiallyarranged annular` ball-races, constructed as grooves or depressionsbelow the surface of the ring, the trav.- erse-rolls loosely surroundingsuch portions, and a series of bearing balls is interposed betweeneachfixed ball-race and the roll, the latter constituting thecomplemental, movable race.

When using two traverse-rolls, asin Figs. 1 and 2, the connecting membercomprises a distance piece 8, preferably a piece of ring tubing, lockedat each end to an enlargement at'the inner end of the roll axle, asimilarenlargement on the outer endof the axle being locked to theadjacent end of the ring l.

The axle may be made of spun sheet metal, and comprises two parts eachhaving an apertured enlargement or head 9, contracted -to form anannular groove 10 and then widened to a shoulder 11, the inner face ofthe'shoulder being concaved at 12 to forin-one-half ofl a ball-race, andthen inwardly flanged at 13. The flanges 13 of the two parts areabutted, as clearly shown in Eig. 3, and fixedly conlargement or head 9.'When so unitedthe concaved parts 12 form a shallow annular. 110

which travel freely therein.

Instead of using sheet metal the axle member may be made solid andturned to shape, as shown at the left, Fig. 2, the central groove 16forming the ball-race, with annular grooves 17 around the bases of theenlargements 18.

One of the heads, whether of sheet-metal or solid, is inserted in theopen or socket-like end of the ring 1, and the metal of the same isforced into the groove 1() or 17, as the case may be, at 19, suchcompression of the metal of the ring securely locking the ring end tothe outer enlargement of the axle, and in a similar manner the innerenlargement is locked to the distance piece 8 by compressing the latterat 20. The two ends of the ring body are thus firmly and rigidlyconnected so that they cannot separate or twist apart, and the use ofsolder is avoided. Before the ends of the ring body are connected theparts of the two traverse-rolls are slipped on, and the balls 15 aredropped into the cup-like part 2 of a roll, after which the part 3 isapplied, its flange 5 telescopically receiving the flange 4. llhen theedge of the flange 5 is rolled over at 6, or otherwise secured, and theroll is assembled, inclosing within it the series of bearing rolls, thelatter traveling in the fixed ball-race previously described. The fixedvrace laterally positions the balls, preventing their displacement, theshoulders 11 Vnearly filling the roll opening 7, and the roll, whichforms the outer, movable race, is supported by the balls and by them isheld from lateral displacement, as will be manifest. As thetraverse-roll has rolling engagement with the balls, and the latter rollaround the fixed ball-race, the friction is reduced to a minimum and thetraverse of the ring as a whole is practically noiseless and easilyeffected.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another form of my invention wherein the fixedball-races are formed in the tubular ring itself, one end of the latterbeing interlocked with the other. Near one end of the ring 21 an annularradially arranged groove or race 22 is formed in the ring by spinningover a former of suitable shape, for one set of balls 23, thetraverse-roll surrounding them being the same as that illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6. A simi* lar race or groove 24 is formed near the otherend of the ring, for the second set of balls 25, but beyond the race thering is reduced in diameter at 26, leaving a shoulder 27, the reducedend being forced into the opposite end of the ring, as shown, andsecured thereto in any suitable manner, as by a drop of solder at 28,the shoulder. 27 limiting the extent to which the reduced end 26 entersthe opposite end of the ring.

It is sometimes desirable to use a traverseroll of relatively largeexternal diameter, with small bearing balls, and in Fig. 7 I have shownin section a twofpart roll adapted for such use, the disk portion 29being bent over and inward at its outer edge, to form the ball-race 30,and then bent outward at 31, the disk 32 having its outer edge bent overto 'form an inclosing flange 33, which is rolled over the disk 29 at 34.Y

The connecting member for securing together the separated ends of thering body may be made as a single piece, as shown inV Fig. 8, havingenlarged heads 35 annularly grooved at 36 to receive the compressedportions of the ring ends, the two ball-races 37 being formed at theends of the central portion 38 ol the connecting member.

Various changes'or modifications may be made by those skilled in theart,in respect to the different details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in theappended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a curtain ringhaving a radially arranged annular ball-race sunk below the externalsurface thereof, of a two-part centrally open traverse roll, looselyembracing the ring about the ball-race, and a series of bearing ballsinterposed between the ball race and the roll and in direct rollingengagement with each, the central opening' of the traverse roll being ofsuflicient diame ter to loosely embrace the ring.

2. The combination, with a curtain-ring, of a centrally aperturedtraverse roll loosely surrounding it and having a ball-race at its innercircumference, the portion of the ring surrounded by the roll having anannular, radially arranged depression therein forming the complementalball-race, and a series of bearing balls loosely mounted in the tworaces, the normal cross-section ol' the ringV being of less diameterthan the central aperture of the roll.

3. The combination, with a curtain-ring having a radially arranged,annular ball-race, of a series of bearing balls to travel therein, and atraverse-roll loosely surrounding the ring and embracing the balls, saidroll comprising two parallel annular disks having their outer edgesflanged and overlapped to form a hollow shell having an annular openrecess at its inner circumference, the edges of the side walls ol' therecess loosely embracing the ring at the sides of the ball-race.

4. The combination, with a metallic curtain ring body having xedlyconnected ends, of a traverse-roll centrally apertured to looselysurround the body and having an annular open recess at its innercircumference, the part of the ring body surrounded by said roll beingreduced in diameter to form an annular track, the cross-section of whichis a circular arc, and a series of rotatable bearing balls interposedbetween the track and the traverse rolls, the latter consisting of twoparallel annular disks flanged at their outer edges and overlapped, theportions of the disks adjacent the flanges forming the sides of anannular, open recess and cooperating with the bearing balls at oppositesides of the series.

5. rlhe combination, with a tubular rnetallic curtain ring body, made inone piece and having its ends fixedly connected, of a hollow traverseroll loosely surrounding it and presenting an annular, open recess atits inner circumference, the part of the ring-body surrounded by theroll having a kradially arranged annular depression and a series ofbearing-balls loosely interposed between said depression and the rolland extending into the open recess at the inner circumference thereof,the sides of the depression and the sides of the recess coperating withthe balls to prevent sidewise movement of the roll on the ring body.

6. The combination, with a tubular metallic curtain ring-body, having anannular ball race presenting a circular arc in cross-section, of atraverse roll loosely surrounding the body around the ball race, and aseries of balls arranged to travel in the race in direct contacttherewith and loosely entering the inner circumference of the roll, thelatter having a central aperture of greater diameter than thecross-section of the body.

7. The combination, with a curtain-ring, of a plurality of radiallyarranged traverserolls loosely surrounding it, the portions of the ringsurrounded by the rolls being reduced in diameter to form annularballraces, and a series of balls interposed between each roll and theadjacent race and adapted to travel in the latter, the rolls having eacha central opening of greater diameter than the unreduced portions of thering.

8. A ball-bearing curtain ring, comprising a ring, and a plurality ofball-bearings arranged radially upon the ring, each consisting of aninner, lixed annular ball-race sunk below the surface of the ring, andpresenting a circular arc in cross-section, an outer, rotatable annularAball-race loosely surrounding the ring, and a series of balls travelingin each inner race and interposed between it and the outer race andcooperating with the latter to support it and limit lateral movementthereof, the balls contacting directly with the inner and outer races.

9. A ball-bearing curtain-ring, comprising a ring, and a ball-bearingarranged radially thereupon, consisting of an inner, fixed annularball-race of less diameter than the cross-section of the ring, an outer,rotatable, annular ball-race loosely surrounding the ring andconstituting a traverse-roll, it having an inner diameter greater thanthe crosssection of the ring, and a series of balls traveling in theinner race and interposed between it and the outer race, cooperatingwith the latter to support it and prevent lateral movement.

l0. A ball-bearing curtain-ring, comprising a ring, and a ball-bearingarranged radially thereupon, consisting of an inner, fixed annularball-race of less diameter than the cross-section of the ring, an outer,rotatable, annular ball-race loosely surrounding the ring, and having aninner diameter greater than the cross-section of the ring, and a seriesof balls traveling in the inner race and interposed between it and theouter race, coperating with the latter to support it and prevent lateralmovement, the outer race being composed of two circular memberscentrally apertured to receive the ring and having their outer edgesflanged and overlapped, the annular portions of the circular membersadjacent the flanges coperating with the portions of the balls exposedbeyond the outer surface ofthe ring.

11. The combination with a one-piece tubular curtain-ring provided witha radially arranged ball-race within the surface thereof, a series ofbearing balls in the race, and a two-part traverse-roll looselysurrounding and traveling upon the series of balls, said roll having anaxial opening of larger diameter than the cross-section of the ring, butof less diameter than a circle tangential to and circumscribing theseries of balls.

12. The combination with a tubular curtain-ring having a ball-supportintegral with and of less diameter than the tube, a twoparttraverse-roll of larger diameter than the tube, and bearing ballsinterposed between the roll and the support and traveling upon thelatter, the bottom of the ball-support being a circular arc incross-section.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of wo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES W. LESLIE.

l/Vitnesses JOHN C. EDwARDs, MARGARET A. DUNN.

